By Adeleye Kunle
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, his Vice President Namadi Sambo, and other prominent Nigerians have urged presidential candidates from political parties to focus their campaigns on issues that affect the people rather than personalities in the run-up to the 2023 elections.
The elder statesmen, who spoke yesterday at the 2022 IBB Legacy Dialogue in Abuja, also urged supporters of the candidates to reject indifference, speak out against hate speech, and keep the country’s fragile unity and stability in mind.
Among those in attendance were the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Musa Bello; Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party; and Adewole Adebayo, Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party.
Others included former governors of Niger and Edo states, Muazu Babangida Aliyu and Adams Oshiomhole, respectively; Solomon Dalung, former Minister of Youth and Sports; Kabiru Turaki, former Minister of Special Duties; Labaran Maku, former Minister of Information; Arc. Gabriel Aduku, former Minister of State, Works; and Senator Dino Melaye, former Minister of State, FCT.
Ex-President Jonathan stated in his remarks that the upcoming elections were critical to the people’s collective aspirations, shared prosperity, and development.
“As a result, I urge our politicians to be mindful of our unity and stability in their campaigns and other political activities.”
“The rest of us do not have the luxury of indifference during this period.” We must be adamant about participating in our democratic processes.
“It necessitates that we mobilize to vote those who will manage the affairs of the country in an honest manner in order to ensure peace, justice, unity, and progress in our land.”
Former Vice President Sambo, who also served as the event’s chairman, emphasized the importance of inclusive governance and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to continue to make Nigeria a model for other African countries.
“Political stability in Nigeria’s democracy is as strategic as stability in Africa’s democratic journey,” he explained.
“Since the restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria in 1999, we have had six successful elections, demonstrating how democracy has evolved into the best method of governance in our dear country.”
The FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, stated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s signing into law of the Electoral Act 2022 had far-reaching, positive consequences that would lead to a stable polity and solve the myriad of issues that plague the country’s electoral system.
The dialogue featured thought-provoking panel discussions from stakeholders on the sub-themes of internal security, credible elections, voter education/citizen participation in the electoral process, electoral process monetisation, and electoral office zoning.
Adams Oshiomhole, who campaigned against the zoning of elective offices in the country, blamed Nigeria’s internal security on successive governments’ failure to prioritize the nomadic education policy instituted by former military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in the late 1980s.
“While we cannot say that any leader has done everything right, it is true that some leaders, including IBB, did get some things right, but succeeding leaders abandoned those things.”
“I’ve heard seemingly contradictory views on democracy.” You wish to zone out. What zone? Is it possible to zone the right to serve? Is it your turn now? To what end? All of the clamor for zoning or power rotation is tinged with self-interest.”
Earlier, Aisha Babangida, the Chief Convener of the IBB Legacy Dialogue, urged stakeholders to ensure that the country not only gets the president it deserves, but also the political contest it deserves.
Over 500 people attended the meeting, including members of academia, the judiciary, civil society organizations, the media, and other political heavyweights.
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